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Friday, June 27, 2014

Kathleen's art really has brightened my rainy Friday!

Click images for larger view

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
I am completely self taught. In fact, I have never had an art class since Grade 7 when it was mandatory. Art was never something I was interested in. The process of creating art crept up on me and has been quite the beautiful surprise. Several years ago, I started making cards, scrapbook style, on my kitchen table. Shortly after, I was introduced to an art journaling book and put some of the techniques to work. The process was transforming and I found my passion. When paper meets ink and the paper crinkles and bumps and crackles happen I lose track of time and crave the finished piece.

What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
Life inspires me. Sometimes it is people and conversations and other times it is music that sets the mood. Both spark creativity and ideas start forming.

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
I mash many mediums together. I classify myself as a mixed media artist. I have been known to use dried flowers, drywall tape, spray paint, inks and acrylics all in the same piece.

What are you working on now?
These days I have been working on a few new designs for my greeting card line. I actually just signed my very first license agreement with a company in the UK and several of my designs have been licensed for greeting cards, stationary products and wall art. I am soo looking forward to those hitting stores and am hoping they will be well received. I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to be able to share my art with parts of the world I have never even been to. Nothing makes me more happy than hearing how one of my creations has touched the heart of someone else.

Anything else you want to tell everyone?
Art has changed my life in ways I could never properly express. I believe the torn edges of life are beautiful as with torn paper, the inner fray represents our inner beings - our thoughts, our dreams, our hurts. I truly believe everyone can create art and when we take away our own judgment or the judgment of others beautiful pieces are created. And, I totally believe the creative possibilities are endless.

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
I am a total early riser. I LOVE the peacefulness of mornings.

What is your favorite food?
My favourite food is a hamburger more specifically a mushroom and cheddar burger - especially from a pub! YUM!!

Friday, June 20, 2014

You all are wonderful people. I really appreciate all the comments and feedback. After I updated my post on HOW I Found an Agent, a few of you asked Why did/do I want an agent? So here goes and let me know if this was helpful.

First - an agent isn't for everyone! You are going to split royalties with them. Just thought I better put that out there right off the bat :-)

Personally, I have a graphic design business that is 16+ years old. I really enjoy all the hats I wear from CEO to janitor. I have learned so much and continue to learn every day. I also like the variety, even the bookkeeping! Marketing is fun for me, discipline comes easily and I am not concerned that I don't have any contacts in the art licensing industry - I will :-). With my trusty intellectual property lawyer in my back pocket, I could license my art without an agent.

So WHY have an agent? I don't want to do it all. My plate is full enough. When you toss in making art collections with my graphic design business, blogging/social media, family! and all the other stuff we all do, I need help! So I decided I wanted help with the business end of art licensing. Having an agent sending out my art speeds up the process by cutting out steps I would have to do if I didn't have an agent. They get ready for and go to Surtex for me etc. Besides, it is SO DARN FUN to make art collections for products —I want to do that part. That is why I have an agent.

When I first started to think about whether I wanted an agent or not my head would spin. I was really hung up on splitting royalties. I could hire help for the graphic design business and do all of the art licensing business on my own. I made a pros and cons list. That with a little bit of time I realized that an agent was the way to go for me. I found a free download of Tara Reed's that was helpful "To use and agent or not to use and agent, that is the question..." Scroll down just a bit. The link is right above the big blue banner. This is also when I found her eBook "How to Find an Art Licensing Agent" that I mentioned I purchased in the blog post HOW I Found an Agent.

Friday, June 13, 2014

I met Susanne at Surtex last month - Can't wait to see what she does next!

(click photos to view larger).Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
For as long as I can remember I loved to draw and my favorite medium has always been pencil & paper. After finishing highschool I only dreamt of making money while being creative. I decided to study Mathematics instead - because that was the other thing I was good at. But let's put it this way: It wasn't for me. After one semester I knew I had to figure out a way of pursuing my creative dream.

I found a wonderful college which highly valued original fine art techniques & at the same time offered a graphic design education. Until that point I was convinced that working on a computer was a necessary evil to make a living. I couldn't have been more wrong: It took a while but I got completely hooked: I realized how much fun & how many endless possibilities working digitally offered. I do think that it's important for artists to know & understand old painting techniques; I was very lucky to have been taught by incredible & inspiring teachers.

A Master's degree in fine arts & graphic design and 5 years later I started as a graphic design intern in a big advertisement agency in Munich/Germany. Just to show everyone that I've tried the agency path but that it wasn't for me. I ended up staying for 4 years, because surprisingly I really liked it (most of the time). I've worked with wonderful people and learned incredibly much. These years of professional experience showed me what I'm capable of, what my strengths are & how the business works.

When I moved to DC in 2009 it was the perfect moment to start fresh, work freelance & focus on my art. If I had known how many endless possibilities for creative people existed I would have made this switch sooner!

What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
I think that all my artwork – painting, pattern or drawing – shows my love for antiques. I'm fascinated by old & vintage objects, because they carry so many memories & always tell a story. My inspiration is basically everywhere – by noticing a broken chair in the streets, by strolling around flea markets or by seeing an old wall with paint coming off. Once upon a time I started to collect vintage objects (preferably old suitcases & books). Old things represent the past. Without the past we wouldn't have precious & important memories and we wouldn't be able to grow & learn. I personally like to link memories to objects. It's very important to me to remember and appreciate history – It's what brought us to this moment.

But despite all things vintage, there are so many incredibly talented designers, artists & crafters out there – every day I'm inspired & amazed. I can't get enough of following them on their creative paths. They are the ones who teach & introduce me to (creative) possibilities that I haven't thought of. I am learning every day & I am so thankful to them for inspiring & helping me pursuing my creative dream.

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
I live by the motto: Do one thing every day that makes you happy! For me that means to being creative: to paint, illustrate or design.

I work in very different mediums, but at the end there's always a digital connection. For my DC LOVE illustrations & products (above), I use my all time favorite medium: pencil. As a next step the finished drawing is scanned and digitally colored. The same goes for my repeating patterns. I usually start with hand-drawn sketches & doodles. Once digitalized I bring the different elements together by collaging & layering. When I paint, my way of expressing is abstract. I work with canvas & handmade paper by using gesso and different layers of paint (oil and acrylic color). Between those layers I use sandpaper to bring out structure and texture. The combination of sanding, scratching and applying layers of paint emphasizes special areas but at the same time it brings out unexpected shapes and forms.

What are you working on now?
As I mentioned before I'm working in very different mediums and I've been struggling with integrating the abstract paintings into my patterns. That's why I was especially over the moon, when DENY DESIGNS (http://www.denydesigns.com/collections/artist/ar-susanne-kasielke) chose to license 16 vintage inspired patterns including my Dictionary Love series. In March my designs went live & I'm super excited about my art on their wide range of products: There's something for everyone: from bedding sheets to jewelry boxes to dog pillows. It's really fantastic to see on how many different products my art can be used.

Did I mention that I LOVE leggings? I can't believe there are people who think leggings aren't pants. I couldn't disagree more! I'm so happy that my brand new abstract art leggings are now available at ArtofWhere (http://www.artofwhere.com/shop/artist/susanne-kasielke). And believe me: I'm my best customer.

Living in my favorite city ever – Washington DC – made me create my DC LOVE series (http://www.susannekasielke.com/dc-love/) consisting of souvenirs like magnets, pocket mirrors, bottle opener & postcards. The illustrations are based on my original pencil drawings which are digitally colored and reproduced. I am super excited that starting this week they are available in two stores at the DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). My plan is to extend my souvenir collection to many other cities, first within the US but eventually I'll take over the souvenir market of the world. (A girl has to have dreams, right?)

After Surtex is before Surtex, right? I just walked the licensing trade show for the first time in May, because I plan on exhibiting in 2015. The experience was incredible, I met so many talented & inspiring artists (finally in person!) & got many valuable tips. It showed me how much I really want to succeed in the surface pattern world. I can't wait to be an exhibitor next year. It seems a bit far away still, but there is so much planning ahead involved – It's never to early to start...

I'm always looking out for new surface pattern & licensing opportunities. The best thing for me is to see my art on products. Every new product with my art supports my dream & brings me one step closer to succeed as an artist.

Anything else you want to tell everyone?
Some little facts to get to know me better:
- I write & paint with my left hand but anything else I pretty much use my right hand for (playing pingpong for example)
- I always carry a (lucky) penny with me (got that from my Grandmother)
- Never talk to me when I'm hungry (I have many friends who can confirm that)
- (Because of the above) It doesn't matter where I go, I always have something to eat in my bag
- I love Mini-Golf
- My favorite band ever: Take That
- My crafts are totally inspired by my Mom – as a kid we used to make detergent boxes pretty by collaging wrapping paper around them
- I like going to bed early (I need a lot of beauty sleep)
- I love Snugglebumms - I think that's the first thing I've ever bought from my pocket money
- I've never met someone who loves Washington DC more than I do

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
I'm definitely the early bird type - If I don't get things done in the morning, I won't accomplished anything in the afternoon or the rest of day.
The best time to work for me is when the beautiful morning sun is shining into my apartment. After breakfast I sit at my desk with a hot cup of tea and start my work day well rested and relaxed.

What is your favorite food?
I have two favorite dishes actually: Spaghetti Bolognese and Chicken Quesadillas.
My Spaghetti Bolognese obsession started many years ago while I was living in Munich. A very close friend would make the best Spaghetti Bolognese that I've tried until then. (Many years & probably 437 Spaghetti Bolognese later I modestly think I've perfectionized the dish myself - Hopefully she doesn't read this...)

The Chicken Quesadillas are kind of a 'new thing' for me. The more I eat the more I like them (also: the more guacamole comes with the quesadillas the better).

Friday, June 6, 2014

Photoshop CC 300 dpi files - download link below.

Happy Friday! For about 30 seconds the other day I though I was all that AND a bag of chips! I was working in Photoshop and noticed one of the arrow shapes would make a great chevron pattern! You can see the single shape easily in the pattern on the right above.

THEN... I thought - I wonder if anyone else has thought of this. One Google search later and TA DA! Yep. lots of folks have. :-) Yeah, well, it felt good for a few seconds. I have been using triangles and diamonds to create a chevron pattern - not an arrow shape...

SO just in case I am not the only one this is new to - you can download the Photoshop files here. (click) FREE for commercial and personal use. No strings attached. Have fun :-D

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About Me

Art for Stuff - Art makes me tick. I am an artist, illustrator and graphic designer.
As long as I can remember, I have been drawing and making things. Took EVERY type of art class I could and went to Iowa State University and studied art & graphic design.
​​LOVE mashed potatoes and gravy. Chocolate is a very close second. I have enjoyed sports all my life, right now the sport of choice is golf. Love a good cause. Red VW bug driver.

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